World

China and Russia veto UN resolution on Hormuz shipping

By AAP Newswire

Apr 8, 2026

China ‌and Russia have vetoed a Bahraini resolution at the United Nations ‌Security Council encouraging countries to co-ordinate efforts ‌to protect commercial ‌shipping ⁠in the Strait of Hormuz.

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The 15-member Security Council voted 11 in favour of ⁠the resolution, ‌with two against - China and Russia - and ‌two abstentions: Pakistan and Colombia.

"The draft resolution has not been adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member ‌of the Council, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the Council.

The resolution had been repeatedly watered down in hopes that China and Russia would abstain.

The vote took place just hours before an 8pm Eastern on Tuesday (10am on Wednesday AEST) deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the strategic waterway or face attacks on its power plants and bridges.

One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the strait, and Iran's stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring.

"Failing to adopt this resolution sends the wrong signal to the world, to the people of the world," Bahrain's foreign minister, said after the vote - "the signal that the threat to international waterways can pass without any decisive action by the international organisation responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security".

with AP